Merchandise processing device and method therefor

ABSTRACT

A merchandise processing device includes an identification unit, a detection unit, and a control unit. The identification unit identifies a merchandise. The detection unit detects, based on a captured image of the merchandise, a privilege medium in which privilege information is recorded. The control unit causes a display device to display the image, on which the privilege medium is detected, in association with information related to the merchandise identified by the identification unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2021-202478, filed on Dec. 14, 2021, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate to a merchandise processing deviceand a method therefor.

BACKGROUND

In a retail store, such as a supermarket, that sells fresh food, it iswidely practiced that a store clerk applies a discount seal to amerchandise that is about to expire and gives a discount, therebyreducing waste loss caused by unsold merchandises. Accordingly, there isa merchandise processing device that recognizes information of thediscount seal based on a captured image of the merchandise andautomatically gives a discount on the merchandise based on theinformation of the discount seal. When this type of merchandiseprocessing device is used in a full self-service manner by a customerfrom merchandise registration to payment, there is a concern about anillegal action of misappropriating discount seals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a payment system usingfull self-service POS terminals;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main circuit configuration of thefull self-service POS terminal;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an appearance of a discount targetmerchandise;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a main memory area formed in amain memory of the full self-service POS terminal;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a layout example of a registrationscreen displayed on a touch panel;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main procedure of main informationprocessing to be executed by a processor according to a merchandiseprocessing program;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a specific procedure of merchandiseinformation update in FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a specific procedure of discountinformation update in FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a registration screen afterupdate; and

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the registration screenafter update.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, according to one embodiment, a merchandise processing devicethat prevents an illegal action of misappropriating discount seals isprovided.

In one embodiment, a merchandise processing device includes anidentification means, a detection means, and a control means. Theidentification means identifies a merchandise. The detection meansdetects, based on a captured image of the merchandise, a privilegemedium in which privilege information is recorded. The control meanscauses a display device to display the image, on which the privilegemedium is detected, in association with information related to themerchandise identified by the identification means.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a merchandise processing device will bedescribed with reference to the drawings.

In the present embodiment, a full self-service point of sales (POS)terminal used in a full self-service payment system introduced in asupermarket or the like is an example of the merchandise processingdevice.

Schematic Description of Payment System

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a payment system 1 usingfull self-service POS terminals 10. The payment system 1 includes aplurality of full self-service POS terminals 10, an attendant terminal20, a store server 30, and a communication network 40. The communicationnetwork 40 is, for example, a local area network (LAN). In the paymentsystem 1, the plurality of full self-service POS terminals 10, theattendant terminal 20, and the store server 30 are connected to thecommunication network 40 to construct a system.

Each of the full self-service POS terminals 10 is installed in a paymentarea prepared separately from a sales area where merchandises aredisplayed. A customer who finishes shopping in the sales area goes tothe payment area and operates an unoccupied full self-service POSterminal 10 to register and pay for, in a self-service manner, purchasedmerchandises.

The attendant terminal 20 is installed in the vicinity of an exit of thepayment area. The attendant terminal 20 is a terminal for monitoring bya store clerk called an attendant. The attendant terminal 20 includes amonitor screen, and images indicating states of the respective fullself-service POS terminals 10 are appropriately displayed on the screen.The number of the attendant terminal 20 is not limited to one. Theplurality of full self-service POS terminals 10 may be divided into twoor more groups, and the attendant terminal 20 may be provided for thegroup.

The store server 30 is a server computer that provides various servicesas a host device of the full self-service POS terminals 10 and theattendant terminal 20. The store server 30 may be physically installedin a store, or may be virtually installed, as a cloud server, on anetwork such as the Internet.

The store server 30 manages a merchandise master file 31. Themerchandise master file 31 is a collection of merchandise recordscreated for a merchandise. The merchandise record is a data record inwhich merchandise related data, such as a merchandise code, amerchandise name, a classification code, and a unit price, is described.The merchandise code is a unique code set for a merchandise in order toindividually identify the merchandise. Usually, a merchandise isattached with a barcode symbol that represents the merchandise codeunique to the merchandise.

Description of Configuration of Full Self-Service POS Terminal

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main circuit configuration of thefull self-service POS terminal 10. The full self-service POS terminal 10includes a processor 101, a main memory 102, an auxiliary storage device103, a clock 104, a communication interface 105, a touch panel 106, acamera 107, an image processing unit 108, a printer 109, a cashprocessing machine 110, a system transmission path 111, and the like.The system transmission path 111 includes an address bus, a data bus, acontrol signal line, and the like. The system transmission path 111directly connects the processor 101 and other units or connects theprocessor 101 and other units via a signal input and output circuit, andtransmits data signals exchanged between the processor 101 and otherunits.

In the full self-service POS terminal 10, a computer is implemented byconnecting the processor 101, the main memory 102, the auxiliary storagedevice 103, the clock 104, and the communication interface 105 via thesystem transmission path 111. Then, in the full self-service POSterminal 10, the image processing unit 108, the cash processing machine110 and devices such as the touch panel 106, the camera 107, and theprinter 109 are connected to the computer via the system transmissionpath 111. The device connected to the system transmission path 111 isnot limited to the devices described above. For example, various devicesrelated to a POS terminal, such as a keyboard, a display, and a handscanner, may be connected.

The processor 101 corresponds to a central part of the computer. Theprocessor 101 controls, according to an operating system or anapplication program, the units to implement various functions as thefull self-service POS terminal 10. The processor 101 is, for example, acentral processing unit (CPU).

The main memory 102 corresponds to a main memory part of the computer.The main memory 102 includes a non-volatile memory area and a volatilememory area. The main memory 102 stores an operating system or anapplication program in the non-volatile memory area. The main memory 102may store, in the non-volatile or volatile memory area, data necessaryfor the processor 101 to execute processing for controlling the units.The volatile memory area of the main memory 102 is used as a work areain which data is appropriately rewritten by the processor 101. Thenon-volatile memory area is, for example, a read only memory (ROM). Thevolatile memory area is, for example, a random access memory (RAM).

The auxiliary storage device 103 corresponds to an auxiliary storagepart of the computer. For example, an electric erasable programmableread-only memory (EEPROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive(SSD), or the like may serve as the auxiliary storage device 103. Theauxiliary storage device 103 stores data to be used when the processor101 performs various types of processing, data created by the processor101 in the processing, and the like. The auxiliary storage device 103may store the application program described above.

The clock 104 clocks date and time. The processor 101 processes the dateand time clocked by the clock 104 as current date and time.

The communication interface 105 controls data communication withexternal devices such as the store server 30 and the attendant terminal20 connected via the communication network 40.

The touch panel 106 is a device including both an input device and adisplay device. The touch panel 106 displays information to a customerwho is an operator of the full self-service POS terminal 10, andreceives an operation input by the customer.

The camera 107 is an imaging device for capturing an image of amerchandise held over a reading window. Images captured by the camera107 are sequentially transmitted to the image processing unit 108 andprocessed thereby.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an appearance of a discount targetmerchandise 50. As shown in FIG. 3 , a discount seal 70 is attached tothe discount target merchandise 50 separately from a barcode 60. Thebarcode 60 may be printed on a package of the discount targetmerchandise 50, or may be printed on a price label and attached to thediscount target merchandise 50. The discount seal 70 is attached by anemployee to, for example, a discount target merchandise that is about toexpire at a position of the merchandise where the discount seal 70 doesnot overlap the barcode 60. The discount seal 70 may be attached to thesame surface as the barcode 60, or may be attached to a differentsurface.

The image processing unit 108 processes an image captured by the camera107 to detect the barcode 60. Further, the image processing unit 108processes an image captured by the camera 107 to detect the discountseal 70. A technique for detecting the barcode 60 or the discount seal70 based on an image is well known, and thus a description thereof willbe omitted here. When the barcode 60 is detected, the image processingunit 108 outputs a barcode detection signal to the processor 101. Whenthe discount seal 70 is detected, the image processing unit 108 outputsa discount seal detection signal to the processor 101.

Information related to a discount is written on the discount seal 70.The processor 101 reduces a price of a merchandise based on theinformation related to the discount. For example, when the discount seal70 on which “half price” is written is detected, the processor 101reduces the price of the merchandise by half. For example, when thediscount seal 70 on which “10 yen discount” is written is detected, theprocessor 101 reduces the price of the merchandise by 10 yen. Forexample, when the discount seal 70 on which “5% discount” is written isdetected, the processor 101 reduces the price of the merchandise by 5%.The discount seal 70 is a type of privilege medium. Here, the imageprocessing unit 108 functions as a detection unit that detects aprivilege medium, in which privilege information is recorded, based on acaptured image of a merchandise.

The printer 109 issues a receipt by printing various character strings,images, or the like on a receipt paper. As this type of printer 109, forexample, a thermal printer, a dot impact printer, or the like can beused.

The cash processing machine 110 processes cash. The cash processingmachine 110 has a bill insertion slot, a bill discharge slot, a coininsertion slot, and a coin discharge slot. The cash processing machine110 processes bills inserted into the bill insertion slot. The cashprocessing machine discharges bills as change from the bill dischargeslot. The cash processing machine receives and processes coins insertedinto the coin insertion slot. The cash processing machine dischargescoins as change from the coin discharge slot.

In the full self-service POS terminal 10 having such a configuration,the processor 101 has functions as an identification unit 121, a controlunit 122, and an output unit 123.

The identification unit 121 is a function of identifying a merchandise.For example, the identification unit 121 identifies a merchandise byacquiring the merchandise code based on information of the barcode 60detected by the image processing unit 108. The identification unit 121may identify a merchandise by acquiring the merchandise code of themerchandise selected from a list of merchandises without barcodedisplayed on the touch panel 106. The identification unit 121 can alsoidentify a merchandise by other methods.

The control unit 122 has a function of causing the display device todisplay an image, in which the discount seal 70 which is a privilegemedium is detected by the image processing unit 108, in association withinformation related to the merchandise identified by the identificationunit 121. The display device is typically the touch panel 106. Thecontrol unit 122 may display the image in which the discount seal 70 isdetected on a display device other than the touch panel 106.

The output unit 123 has a function of outputting information displayedon the display device to a monitoring terminal. The monitoring terminalis typically the attendant terminal 20.

The function of the image processing unit 108 and the functions of theprocessor 101 as the identification unit 121, the control unit 122, andthe output unit 123 are all implemented according to a merchandiseprocessing program. The merchandise processing program is a type ofapplication program stored in the main memory 102 or the auxiliarystorage device 103. A method of installing the merchandise processingprogram in the main memory 102 or the auxiliary storage device 103 isnot particularly limited. The merchandise processing program can berecorded on a removable recording medium, or the merchandise processingprogram can be distributed by communication via a communication networkand installed in the main memory 102 or the auxiliary storage device103. A form of the recording medium is not limited as long as therecording medium can store programs and can be read by devices, such asa CD-ROM and a memory card.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a main memory area formed in themain memory 102 of the full self-service POS terminal 10. The mainmemory 102 includes, in particular, a latest buffer 1021, a detailbuffer 1022, and a total buffer 1023.

The latest buffer 1021 is an area for storing at least the merchandisecode, the merchandise name, the unit price, the number, a discountamount, an amount of money, and an image of a latest registeredmerchandise.

The detail buffer 1022 is an area for storing the merchandise codes, themerchandise names, the unit prices, the number, the discount amounts,the amounts of money, and the images of merchandises registered beforethe latest registered merchandise in association with serial numbers(No.) from “1”.

The total buffer 1023 is an area for storing a total number and a totalamount of money of registered merchandises.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a layout example of a registrationscreen 80 displayed on the touch panel 106. As shown in FIG. 5 , theregistration screen 80 includes a latest display part 81 and a detaildisplay part 82. The registration screen 80 also displays a paymentbutton 83. A button image displayed on the registration screen 80 is notlimited to the payment button 83. A button image having another functionmay also be displayed.

The latest display part 81 is an area for displaying the merchandisename, the unit price, the number, and the amount of money of the latestregistered merchandise, and the total number and the total amount ofmoney of all the registered merchandises. When there is a discount forthe latest registered merchandise, an image related to the discount isdisplayed together with the discount amount. That is, the latest displaypart 81 is an area for displaying data stored in the latest buffer 1021and data stored in the total buffer 1023.

The detail display part 82 is an area for displaying the merchandisenames, the numbers, the unit prices, the discount amounts, the images,and the amounts of money of the merchandises registered before thelatest registered merchandise in a list form in association with theserial numbers in the registration order. That is, the detail displaypart 82 is an area for displaying data stored in the detail buffer 1022.

The payment button 83 is an operator for instructing a customer tocomplete the registration of the merchandise and shift to the payment ofthe merchandise. That is, the customer who completes the registration ofpurchased merchandises by operating the full self-service POS terminal10 can shift to a payment operation by touching the payment button 83.

Description of Operation of Full Self-Service POS Terminal

FIGS. 6 to 8 are flowcharts showing main procedures of informationprocessing to be executed by the processor 101 according to themerchandise processing program. FIG. 9 is an example of the registrationscreen 80 that transitions during the information processing.Hereinafter, a main operation of the full self-service POS terminal 10will be described with reference to the drawings. The operationdescribed below is an example. As long as the same effect can beobtained, the procedure or the content of the processing can beappropriately changed. The layout of the screen, the image, a text, andthe like are not limited to those shown in the drawings.

For example, a customer who finishes shopping in the sales area standsin front of the full self-service POS terminal 10 and touches the touchpanel 106. Then, the merchandise processing program is started up, andthe processor 101 starts the information processing of the procedureshown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 .

First, in ACT 1, the processor 101 resets a counter N of the number ofregistered items to “0”. The counter N of the number of registered itemsis built in, for example, the processor 101. The counter N of the numberof registered items may be formed in the volatile area of the mainmemory 102.

Next, in ACT 2, the processor 101 displays the registration screen 80 onthe touch panel 106. At this time, the latest buffer 1021, the detailbuffer 1022, and the total buffer 1023 are all cleared. Therefore, asshown in FIG. 5 , the touch panel 106 displays the registration screen80 in which information related to the merchandise, such as themerchandise name, the number, and the unit price, is blank. In ACT 3,the processor 101 that controls the display of the registration screen80 activates the camera 107.

A customer who confirms the registration screen 80 holds the barcode 60attached to a purchased merchandise 50 over the reading window in orderto self-register the purchased merchandise 50. The camera 107 capturesan image of the barcode 60 held over the reading window. At this time,the camera 107 captures not only the barcode 60 but also a merchandisepackage around the barcode 60. The image processing unit 108 detects thebarcode 60 based on the image captured by the camera 107. When thebarcode 60 is detected, the image processing unit 108 outputs a barcodedetection signal to the processor 101.

When the discount seal 70 is attached to the purchased merchandise 50,the customer holds the discount seal 70 over the reading window. Thecamera 107 captures an image of the discount seal 70 held over thereading window. At this time, the camera 107 captures not only thediscount seal 70 but also a merchandise package around the discount seal70. The image processing unit 108 detects the discount seal 70 based onthe image captured by the camera 107. When the discount seal 70 isdetected, the image processing unit 108 outputs a discount sealdetection signal to the processor 101.

In ACT 4, the processor 101 that activates the camera 107 confirmswhether or not the barcode detection signal is received. If the barcodedetection signal is not received, the processor 101 proceeds to ACT 5.In ACT 5, the processor 101 confirms whether or not the discount sealdetection signal is received. If the discount seal detection signal isnot received, the processor 101 proceeds to ACT 6. In ACT 6, theprocessor 101 confirms whether or not a payment signal is received. Thepayment signal is a signal output from the touch panel 106 to theprocessor 101 when the touch panel 106 detects that the payment button83 is touched. If the payment signal is not received, the processor 101returns to ACT 4. Here, in ACT 4 to ACT 6, the processor 101 waits toreceive the barcode detection signal, the discount seal detectionsignal, or the payment signal.

If the barcode detection signal is received in a standby state of ACT 4to ACT 6, the processor 101 proceeds to ACT 7. In ACT 7, the processor101 updates the merchandise information. Details of the merchandiseinformation update will be described later. When the processor 101completes the merchandise information update, the processor 101 returnsto the standby state of ACT 4 to ACT 6.

If the discount seal detection signal is received in the standby stateof ACT 4 to ACT 6, the processor 101 proceeds to ACT 8. In ACT 8, theprocessor 101 updates the discount information. Details of the discountinformation update will be described later. When the processor 101completes the discount information update, the processor 101 returns tothe standby state of ACT 4 to ACT 6.

When a customer completes the self-registration of all the purchasedmerchandises 50, the customer touches the payment button 83. When thepayment button 83 is touched, the payment signal is input from the touchpanel 106 to the processor 101. If the payment signal is received in thestandby state of ACT 4 to ACT 6, the processor 101 proceeds to ACT 9. InACT 9, the processor 101 stops the camera 107. Next, in ACT 10, theprocessor 101 switches the screen of the touch panel 106 from theregistration screen 80 to a payment screen. The payment screen is ascreen for accepting a payment by a payment method such as cash, acredit card, or electronic money. For example, in the case of cashpayment, a screen for displaying an amount of deposit, an amount ofchange, and the like is the payment screen.

In ACT 11, the processor 101 that controls the display of the paymentscreen executes payment processing. For example, in the case of cashpayment, the processor 101 calculates an amount of change by subtractingthe total amount of money of a transaction from an amount of depositinserted into the cash processing machine 110, and displays the amountof deposit and the amount of change on the payment screen. The processor101 controls the printer 109 to print and issue a detail receipt of thepurchased merchandises.

When the processor 101 completes the payment processing, the processor101 proceeds to ACT 12. In ACT 12, the processor 101 clears the latestbuffer 1021, the detail buffer 1022, and the total buffer 1023. Asdescribed above, the processor 101 completes the processing of themerchandise processing program for one customer.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a specific procedure of the merchandiseinformation update.

When the merchandise information update is started, in ACT 21, theprocessor 101 counts up the counter N of the number of registered itemsby “1”. Then, in ACT 22, the processor 101 confirms whether or not thevalue of the counter N of the number of registered items is larger than“1” .

When a first purchased merchandise is registered, the counter N of thenumber of registered items is “1”. At this time, both the latest buffer1021 and the detail buffer 1022 are cleared. On the other hand, whensecond and subsequent purchased merchandises are registered, the counterN of the number of registered items is equal to or larger than “2”. Atthis time, at least in the latest buffer 1021, the merchandise code, themerchandise name, the unit price, the number, and the like related tothe immediately previously registered merchandise are described.

If the counter N of the number of registered items is “1”, the processor101 proceeds from ACT 22 to ACT 26. That is, the processor 101 skips theprocessing in ACT 23, ACT 24, and ACT 25.

If the counter N of the number of registered items is larger than “1”,the processor 101 proceeds from ACT 22 to ACT 23. In ACT 23, theprocessor 101 acquires data of the latest buffer 1021. Then, in ACT 24,the processor 101 adds a count value of the counter N of the number ofregistered items to the data of the latest buffer 1021 and describes thedata of the latest buffer 1021 in the detail buffer 1022. In ACT 25, theprocessor 101 clears the latest buffer 1021. Thereafter, the processor101 proceeds to ACT 26.

As described above, when the first purchased merchandise is registered,the processor 101 skips the processing of ACT 23 to ACT 25 and proceedsto ACT 26. When the second and subsequent purchased merchandises areregistered, the processor 101 proceeds to ACT 26 after executing theprocessing of ACT 23 to ACT 25 each time.

In ACT 26, the processor 101 detects a merchandise code from a barcodedetected by the image processing unit 108. In ACT 27, the processor 101acquires merchandise data such as the merchandise name and the unitprice stored in the merchandise master file 31 in association with themerchandise code. In ACT 28, the processor 101 creates merchandisedetail data including the merchandise code, the merchandise name, theunit price, the number, and the amount of money. The number is “1” whenthere is no multiplication registration, and is a multiplier of 1 whenthere is multiplication registration. The amount of money is an amountof money calculated by multiplying the unit price by the number.

In ACT 29, the processor 101 describes the merchandise detail data inthe latest buffer 1021. At this time, the discount amount is “0”. Animage is also not included. In ACT 30, the processor 101 updates thetotal buffer 1023. That is, the processor 101 adds the number inmerchandise sales data to the total number in the total buffer 1023.Further, the processor 101 adds an amount of money in the merchandisesales data to the total amount of money in the total buffer 1023.

In ACT 31, the processor 101 updates the registration screen 80.Specifically, the processor 101 causes the latest display part 81 todisplay the merchandise name, the unit price, the number, and the amountof money in the latest buffer 1021 and the total number and the totalamount of money in the total buffer 1023. Further, the processor 101displays the merchandise name, the unit price, the number, and theamount of money in the detail buffer 1022 on the detail display part 82in the order of a series of numbers.

When the processor 101 completes the update of the registration screen80, in ACT 32, the processor 101 controls the communication interface105 to output information of the registration screen 80 to the attendantterminal 20. By this control, the information of the registration screen80 is transmitted to the attendant terminal 20. As a result, the sameinformation as the registration screen 80 is displayed on a monitoringmonitor of the attendant terminal 20.

As described above, the processor 101 exits the merchandise informationupdate.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a specific procedure of the discountinformation update.

When the discount information update is started, in ACT 41, theprocessor 101 confirms whether or not the counter N of the number ofregistered items is a value larger than “0”. When the discountinformation update is started without updating the merchandiseinformation, the counter N of the number of registered items is “0”.That is, since there is an operation error that the discount seal isread without identifying the purchased merchandise, the processor 101completes the discount information update as an error.

If the counter N of the number of registered items is larger than “0”,the processor 101 proceeds to ACT 42. In ACT 42, the processor 101detects discount information described in the discount seal 70. Then, inACT 43, the processor 101 calculates the discount amount based on thediscount information. For example, when the discount information is halfprice and the unit price of an identified merchandise is 100 yen, thediscount amount is 50 yen which is half the price of 100 yen. Forexample, when the discount information is 10 yen discount and the unitprice of an identified merchandise is equal to or higher than thediscount amount, the discount amount is 10 yen. For example, when thediscount information is 5% discount and the unit price of an identifiedmerchandise is 100 yen, the discount amount is 5 yen.

After acquiring the discount amount, the processor 101 acquires an imageof the discount seal 70 from the image processing unit 108. In the imageprocessing unit 108, frame images captured by the camera 107 are storedin time series. The processor 101 grasps a frame time of an image inwhich the discount seal is detected. The processor 101 acquires a frameimage having the same frame time from the image processing unit 108.

When the processor 101 completes acquiring the captured image, in ACT45, the processor 101 describes the frame image in the latest buffer1021. In ACT 46, the processor 101 subtracts the discount amount fromthe total amount of money in the total buffer 1023.

In ACT 47, the processor 101 updates the registration screen 80.Specifically, the processor 101 causes the latest display part 81 todisplay the discount amount and the image described in the latest buffer1021. Further, the processor 101 changes the total amount of money onthe latest display part 81 so as to match the total amount of money inthe total buffer 1023.

When the processor 101 completes the update of the registration screen80, in ACT 48, the processor 101 controls the communication interface105 to output the information of the registration screen 80 to theattendant terminal 20. By this control, the information of the updatedregistration screen 80 is transmitted to the attendant terminal 20. As aresult, the same information as the registration screen 80 is displayedon the monitoring monitor of the attendant terminal 20. That is, thediscount amount and the image are displayed.

As described above, the processor 101 exits the discount informationupdate.

Here, the processor 101 implements the function as the identificationunit 121 by ACT 26 to ACT 29 of FIG. 7 . The processor 101 implementsthe function as the control unit 122 by ACT 44 to ACT 47 of FIG. 8 . Theprocessor 101 implements the function as the output unit 123 by the ACT48 of FIG. 8 .

Description of Effects of Full Self-Service POS Terminal

FIG. 9 is an example of the registration screen 80 when three purchasedmerchandises including a purchased merchandise AAA having a unit priceof 100 yen, a purchased merchandise BBB having a unit price of 500 yen,and a purchased merchandise CCC having a unit price of 300 yen areregistered. A discount seal 70 for 10 yen discount is attached to thepurchased merchandise AAA. A half price discount seal is attached to thepurchased merchandise CCC. In this case, a customer first holds thebarcode of the purchased merchandise AAA over the reading window. Then,the customer holds the discount seal 70 for 10 yen discount over thereading window. Next, the customer holds the barcode of the purchasedmerchandise BBB over the reading window. Since the discount seal 70 isnot attached to the purchased merchandise BBB, the customer does nothold the discount seal over the reading window. Next, the customer holdsthe barcode of the purchased merchandise CCC over the reading window.Next, the customer holds the half price discount seal 70 over thereading window.

When the full self-service POS terminal 10 is operated in the aboveprocedure, an image 91 when the discount seal 70 indicating 10 yendiscount is captured is displayed in a row of No. 1 in the detaildisplay part 82 together with the number “1”, the unit price “100”, thediscount amount “10”, and the amount of money “90” after the discount ofthe purchased merchandise AAA. In the image 91, a merchandise packagearound the discount seal 70 is also displayed together with the discountseal 70. Therefore, the customer can recognize that the purchasedmerchandise AAA is correctly discounted based on the discount seal 70.

The number “1”, the unit price “500”, the discount amount “0”, and theamount of money “500” of the purchased merchandise CCC are displayed ina row of No. 2 in the detail display part 82. Nothing is displayed in animage column. Therefore, the customer can recognize that the purchasedmerchandise BBB is registered without discount.

Meanwhile, in addition to the unit price “300” and the number “1” of thepurchased merchandise CCC, the latest display part 81 displays an image92, captured when the half price discount seal 70 is imaged, togetherwith the amount of money “150” after the discount and the discountamount “150” of the purchased merchandise CCC. In the image 92, amerchandise package around the discount seal 70 is also displayedtogether with the discount seal 70. Therefore, the customer canrecognize that the purchased merchandise CCC is correctly discountedbased on the discount seal 70.

However, it is assumed that after the customer registers the purchasedmerchandise BBB, the customer holds the half price discount seal 70 overthe reading window before registering the purchased merchandise CCC. Inthis case, as shown in FIG. 10 , the latest display part 81 displays theimage 92 of the discount seal 70 together with the unit price, thenumber, and the like of the purchased merchandise BBB. Therefore, thecustomer can know that the order of operation on the discount seal 70 isincorrect and the purchased merchandise BBB is discounted instead of thepurchased merchandise CCC. Incidentally, in this case, by performing apredetermined cancellation operation, the full self-service POS terminal10 can be returned to the state before the discount seal 70 is read.

A customer may try to illegally misappropriate the discount seal 70. Forexample, if the discount seal 70 is a half price discount seal, thediscount amount is maximized by applying the discount seal 70 to amerchandise having the highest unit price. In the above example, themerchandise having the highest unit price is the purchased merchandiseBBB. Therefore, after the customer registers the purchased merchandiseBBB, the customer may intentionally hold the half price discount seal 70to the reading window before registering the purchased merchandise CCC.

However, in this case, as shown in FIG. 10 , the image 92 of thediscount seal 70 attached to the purchased merchandise CCC is displayedon the latest display part 81 together with the unit price, the number,and the like of the purchased merchandise BBB. Therefore, it is obviousfrom the information on the latest display part 81 that the purchasedmerchandise CCC to which the discount seal 70 is attached does not matchthe purchased merchandise BBB to be discounted based on the discountseal 70. That is, it is difficult for the customer to perform an illegalaction of misappropriating the discount seal 70, and an effect ofpreventing the illegal action is fully exerted.

In addition, on the attendant terminal 20, an image having the samecontent as the registration screen 80 displayed on the touch panel 106of the full self-service POS terminal 10 is displayed substantially inreal time. Therefore, an attendant who is a monitoring person of theattendant terminal 20 can easily find the illegal misappropriation ofthe discount seal 70. From this point of view, the monitoring alsosignificantly improves the effect of preventing illegal misappropriationof the discount seal 70.

Illegal misappropriation such as attaching the discount seal 70 toanother merchandise may be performed. In this case, an image of amerchandise to which the discount seal 70 is attached matches amerchandise registered immediately before that merchandise. However,since the image of the merchandise to which the discount seal 70 isattached is displayed on the touch panel 106, the customer may considerthat, for example, the attendant may find the illegal action that thediscount seal 70 is attached to another merchandise. Therefore, fromthis point, it can also be said that there is an effect of preventingillegal misappropriation of the discount seal 70.

In general, the information displayed on the registration screen 80 isleft in the auxiliary storage device 103 as journal data. Therefore, byanalyzing the journal data, the illegal misappropriation of the discountseal 70 can be easily found.

Modification

The merchandise processing device is not limited to the fullself-service POS terminal 10 that allows a customer to registerpurchased merchandises in a self-service manner. For example, in a storethat rents out a recording medium in which content such as music or amovie is recorded, a rental merchandise may be rented by being attachedwith a privilege medium that clearly indicates a discount on a rentalfee or an extension of a rental period. An example of the merchandiseprocessing device may be such a terminal that allows self-registrationat the time of rental of a rental merchandise.

In the above embodiment, the image processing unit 108 is described as afunction different from those of the processor 101. In this regard, theimage processing unit 108 may be provided as a function of the processor101.

The privilege medium is not limited to the discount seal. For example, amagnification change seal or the like that clearly indicates that themagnification of a service point is changed to double or the like may beused.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented as examples, and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe inventions. These novel embodiments can be implemented in variousother forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can bemade without departing from the spirit of the inventions. Theseembodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope of theinventions, and are also included in the inventions described in thescope of the claims and an equivalent scope thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A merchandise processing device, comprising: anidentification component to identify a merchandise; a detector todetect, based on a captured image of the merchandise, a privilege mediumin which privilege information is recorded; and a controller to cause adisplay device to display the image, on which the privilege medium isdetected, in association with information related to the merchandiseidentified by the identification component.
 2. The merchandiseprocessing device according to claim 1, wherein the display deviceincludes a latest display part configured to display information relatedto a most recently identified merchandise, and a detail display partconfigured to display, in a list form, information related to amerchandise identified before the most recently identified merchandise,and the controller causes the latest display part to display the imageon which the privilege medium is detected.
 3. The merchandise processingdevice according to claim 2, wherein when a next merchandise isidentified by the identification component in a state where the image isdisplayed on the latest display part, the controller causes the detaildisplay part to display the image together with information related to amerchandise displayed on the latest display part.
 4. The merchandiseprocessing device according to claim 1, further comprising: an outputcomponent to output information displayed on the display device to amonitoring terminal.
 5. The merchandise processing device according toclaim 1, wherein the identification component identifies a barcode anddiscount seal.
 6. The merchandise processing device according to claim1, wherein the identification component first identifies a barcode andthen identifies a discount seal associated with the barcode.
 7. Themerchandise processing device according to claim 1, wherein theprivilege medium comprises a discount seal.
 8. A method for causing acomputer of a merchandise processing device to perform functionsincluding identifying a merchandise; detecting, based on a capturedimage of the merchandise, a privilege medium in which privilegeinformation is recorded; and causing a display device to display theimage, on which the privilege medium is detected, in association withinformation related to the merchandise identified.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 8, further comprising: displaying information on alatest display part related to a most recently identified merchandise;displaying, in a list form, information related to a merchandiseidentified before the most recently identified merchandise; and causingthe latest display part to display the image on which the privilegemedium is detected.
 10. The method according to claim 9, furthercomprising: when a next merchandise is identified by a identificationcomponent in a state where the image is displayed on a latest displaypart, causing the detail display part to display the image together withinformation related to a merchandise displayed on the latest displaypart.
 11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:outputting information displayed on a display device to a monitoringterminal.
 12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:Identifying a barcode and discount seal.
 13. The method according toclaim 8, further comprising: first identifying a barcode and thenidentifying a discount seal associated with the barcode.
 14. A POSterminal, comprising: a settlement processing component; and amerchandise processing device, comprising: an identification componentto identify a merchandise; a detector to detect, based on a capturedimage of the merchandise, a privilege medium in which privilegeinformation is recorded; and a controller to cause a display device todisplay the image, on which the privilege medium is detected, inassociation with information related to the merchandise identified bythe identification component.
 15. The POS terminal according to claim14, wherein the display device includes a latest display part configuredto display information related to a most recently identifiedmerchandise, and a detail display part configured to display, in a listform, information related to a merchandise identified before the mostrecently identified merchandise, and the controller causes the latestdisplay part to display the image on which the privilege medium isdetected.
 16. The POS terminal according to claim 15, wherein when anext merchandise is identified by the identification component in astate where the image is displayed on the latest display part, thecontroller causes the detail display part to display the image togetherwith information related to a merchandise displayed on the latestdisplay part.
 17. The POS terminal according to claim 14, furthercomprising: an output component to output information displayed on thedisplay device to a monitoring terminal.
 18. The POS terminal accordingto claim 14, wherein the identification component identifies a barcodeand discount seal.
 19. The POS terminal according to claim 14, whereinthe identification component first identifies a barcode and thenidentifies a discount seal associated with the barcode.
 20. The POSterminal according to claim 14, wherein the privilege medium comprises adiscount seal.